Management of site contamination
Management of site contamination
South Australia, along with many other states and countries across the world, faces significant challenges with respect to the complexity and volume of site contamination issues resulting from historic industry and development practices. Some past industrial practices may have been acceptable at that time would be considered poor by today’s health and environmental standards.
As part of its core business under the EP Act, the EPA ensures the appropriate management of identified site contamination across the state and makes information on known site contamination publicly available. While the EPA has a significant role in this respect state planning and development processes also play a critical part.
Generally, site contamination occurs as a direct result of past environmental practices and is often caused by chemical substances used in manufacturing, as well as agricultural chemicals, pesticides and waste products.
In years gone by, industry and the community were less informed about the impact of using chemicals and other harmful toxic substances. Disposal of these products was often not regulated and it was common for pollutants to come into direct contact with the environment.
Site contamination is often detected during investigations that may be undertaken as part of a due diligence assessment or required as part of the planning approval processes associated with the subdivision, development or redevelopment of a parcel of land. Likewise, if there is to be a change in the use of land from commercial or industrial to residential, site testing is recommended as part of that process.
The EPA provides advice, guidance and regulates site contamination to ensure that it is appropriately recognised, considered and addressed throughout South Australia.
The EPA continues to undertake a number of activities to ensure the appropriate management of site contamination, by:
- meeting jurisdictional responsibilities under the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 1999 (ASC NEPM) and contributing to its implementation
- providing advice about planning and development issues
- collaborating with the Department of Health and Ageing on related potential or actual public health issues
- providing information through the Land Titles Office
- establishing and maintaining the Public Register.
Review of site contamination guidelines
The EPA conducted a review of its published site contamination guidelines following the amendment in May 2013 of the National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 1999 (ASC NEPM). A 12-month implementation phase has allowed for the following draft publications to be prepared and subjected to stakeholder consultation in 2013–14:
- Guideline for the assessment and remediation of site contamination (new)
- Guideline for the site contamination audit system
- Notification of site contamination that affects or threatens underground water (revised)
- A series of information sheets on the audit system and consultants (revised).
The EPA, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Ageing, and other relevant government departments, will become directly involved where site contamination is identified. Table 3 shows site contamination notifications received for 201314 and compared with previous years.
Key achievements for the financial year include:
- continued transparency and availability of site contamination information through the web and print media
- accreditation of three additional site contamination auditors through the mutual recognition process. No accreditation round was offered under the South Australian scheme in 201314 financial year. The total number of site contamination auditors is 25 (as at 30 June 2014)
- review of site contamination guidelines to ensure consistency with the revised ASC NEPM, which was amended in 2013. Information sessions and workshops, including key stakeholder engagement, were held on the draft guidance documents
- continued regulation and management of priority site contamination issues at Clovelly Park, Hendon, Keswick, Glenelg East, Elizabeth, Aldgate and Mount Gambier.
Table 3—Site contamination notifications received by the EPA during 2013–14
| Received documentation | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 |
| Notifications of commencement of site contamination audit | 53 | 46 | 51 |
| Site contamination audit reports | 35 | 24 | 30 |
| Notifications of termination of site contamination audit | 9 | 18 | 27 |
| Agreements for the transfer of liability for site contamination | 6 | 9 | 6 |
| Notifications of site contamination that affects or threatens groundwater | 100 | 89 | 103 |